UF Law Dean Receives Award for Service To Students

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Robert Jerry, dean of the University of Florida’s Levin College of Law, is this year’s recipient of the Julie Sina Award, given each year to a faculty member who shows “outstanding commitment to students.”

Student Government leaders selected Jerry from among UF’s roughly 2,800 faculty for the award, named in honor of former UF Dean of Students Julie Sina. Jerry was given the award in a ceremony on the UF campus April 16.

“Dean Sina was still here when I was in my first semester, and I remember her as someone who was very dedicated to students,” said Student Government President Jamal Sowell, who nominated Jerry for the honor. “I wanted this award to go to someone who showed a similar attitude, putting students first while working to make the University of Florida a stronger institution.”

Sowell said he nominated Jerry because of the dean’s active efforts to interact with students at the law school – including the twice-monthly “Breakfast with the Dean,” a regular get-together which allows students to meet with the dean and ask him questions.

“I’ve never met a student at the law school who had anything bad to say about the dean,” he said. “It’s clear that the students don’t see him as a distant political figure. He’s someone who is present on campus and well known to the student body.”

Jerry said he was honored to receive the award.

“This award means a lot to me because I do believe the law school should do its best to serve its students,” Jerry said. “This recognition shows me that our campus-wide efforts to improve service to students are being noticed.”